The controller, which is likely not the final product, includes a touchpad in between the d-pad and the traditional buttons, while the thumbsticks remain largely in the same place as the DualShock 3.

This time around, Sony's controller appears to be a bit more rounded and perhaps even a bit bulkier than previous iterations. I've griped about the DualShock grip in the past, at least in comparison to the Xbox 360 controller, so adding a little bulk to the unit should help (at least for me.)

Here's the first leaked image from Destructoid:

"The Dual Shock 4 prototype itself is a significant leap beyond its predecessor," writes Digital Foundry writer Richard Leadbetter, "featuring a two-point touchpad interface and, in addition, a built-in loudspeaker and what we understand to be integrated PlayStation Move functionality."

Leadbetter continues:

There are two major headline features here. First up, there's the touchpad integrated into the face of the controller (there's no corresponding touch interface on the back). It's a two-point multi-touch interface similar to the rear pad on PlayStation Vita, and should allow for finer, more granular control than the less sensitive analogue sticks - think of the minute movements required for lining up a head-shot, for example.

He also notes that the blue light at the top of the controller suggests that "not only will PlayStation Move return for Orbis, it will actually be integrated into the Dual Shock itself."

This is big news, having important ramifications for other areas of the system. The original iteration of Move was an ingenious design: PlayStation Eye locked onto the glowing sphere via calibration and then judged depth owing to the size of the sphere in its 2D field of view. The closer the sphere, the bigger it would be on the camera image and no matter which way you held the controller, the PS3 would still be able to lock on it as the shape of the sphere would not change, only its size. Clearly things have altered with the new Dual Shock.

Read the rest of Digital Foundry's analysis here. Leadbetter notes that Sony is probably unhappy about the leaked images given the fact that we're only 5 days out from what is likely the official reveal of "Orbis" or the PlayStation 4.

On the other hand, leaks like this can really help build the excitement and hype around the next-gen console and around the impending announcement itself. This way, people will be talking and speculating right up to the finish line. It may not be all neat and tidy, but even accidental viral marketing can serve a purpose.

I think the new controller, even in its prototype phase, looks awesome, combining the best of motion, touch, and traditional controls into one compact unit. And the thumbsticks remain, blessedly, intact. That touchpad may be more sensitive and accurate than thumbsticks, but I'm Luddite enough to want to keep them around.